Page 12 - The indian EYE 050622

OPINION MAY 06, 2022 | The Indian Eye 12

cooperate on various positive agendas to the rapidly growing Indian market.
relating to the Indo-Pacific. India and Labor-intensive sectors in India like
Australia have similar concerns vis-à- textiles, pharmaceuticals, etc., will
vis China’s coercive behavior. Aus- create new jobs and Indian students
tralia has pushed back on China’s ag- and software professionals will ben-
gressive trade barriers, and has called efit from the liberalized visa regime.
for independent investigation of In addition, the agreement will assist
COVID-19 origins. India, on its part, Indian finished product exports in
has given a strong response to China’s petroleum, cosmetics, linen clothing,
unilateral attempts to alter status quo jewelry and furniture.
on the Ladakh border.
India and Australia cooperate Way Forward
closely at ASEAN forums viz. East Being two major powers with
Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Fo- shared interests, India and Australia
rum and ASEAN Defense Ministers can play a significant role in creating
Meeting, as also at G20, which India is a strong and prosperous Indo-Pacific
going to host next year. The two coun- region. The Quad partnership must
tries have a robust issue-based trilat- be leveraged and widened in its rel-
eral mechanisms with Japan (since External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during evance and influence, by enhancing
2015), Indonesia (2017) and France security and economic cooperation
(2020). Some multilateral initiatives the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Melbourne (ANI Photo) among the member nations. India
where India has taken lead and the needs to engage more proactively with
two countries cooperate are Supply ASEAN nations and give required
Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), assistance, including in the defense
Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infra- field, like in the case of the supply of
structure (CDRI), and Infrastructure BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to
for Resilient Island States (IRIS) and Philippines. India and Australia need
International Solar Alliance (ISA). In to take a leadership role in maritime
the Indian Ocean, both countries en- security affairs in the two oceans,
gage with partners in forums at Indian and have deeper engagements with
Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Indi- the Pacific and Indian Ocean Island
an Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS); countries. Joint defense manufac-
as also at many multilateral exercises, turing has a tremendous potential to
such as Malabar and now Talisman be explored, leveraging Aatmanir-
Sabre and Indo-Pacific Endeavour. bhar Bharat initiative. Furthermore,
India and Australia have a shared broader long-term reciprocal access
vision on the Indo-Pacific. India’s ap- arrangements, similar to foundational
proach to the region was articulated agreements with US, can be looked
by PM Modi in 2018 through the vi- Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal delivered the keynote address at the at to emphasize real-time maritime
sion of SAGAR (Security and Growth lunch with business leaders organised by Australia India Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne, domain awareness and information
for All). To implement the vision of sharing, besides interoperability and
SAGAR, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Ini- in Melbourne on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Piyush Goel Twitter) operational coordination. Close co-
tiative (IPOI) was launched in 2019. operation in critical emerging tech-
India has also strengthened its out- that there are many issues of diver- defense manufacturing and resilient nologies will be a win-win for both
reach with Pacific Island countries, gences also. Australia has looked at supply chains. Australia has increased countries, for example in fields of Ar-
through FIPIC (Forum for India–Pa- strategic and security issues through its defense budget and is acquiring tificial Intelligence, semiconductors,
cific Island Cooperation). Australia’s the lens of its US alliance, which has advanced weapon systems, including drones, 6G, blockchain, etc. While the
strategic view on Indo-Pacific is spelt now got further strengthened with nuclear-propelled submarines and hy- ECTA has been inked, CECA should
out in 2020 Defense Strategic Up- AUKUS deal, whereas India follows personic missiles under AUKUS deal. be concluded at the earliest. Some
date. Australia’s strategic objectives an independent foreign policy in in- other focus areas can be enhanced
as defined in this document include ternational relations and tries to bal- The Promise of IndAus ECTA trade in uranium under the rubric of
–the shaping of strategic environ- ance its strategic calculations. The Recognizing that a free trade civil nuclear cooperation and joint in-
ment in the region, deterring actions two nations have differing views on agreement between the two countries frastructure connectivity projects.
that are against Australian interests Myanmar, for instance. For India, de- will usher in economic growth and
and responding with credible mili- velopments in Myanmar are a matter build trust and respect, the two nations Col R.P. Singh is Research Fellow
tary force, if required. South Pacific of strategic concern, due to its prox- signed the historic IndAus ECTA on 2 at Manohar Parrikar Institute for De-
region is Australia’s primary area of imity to the country’s northeast region April 2022. With ECTA in place, the fense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
influence and its deep engagement and militants operating from across trade is likely to increase from the Views expressed are of the author
in the region is defined by the Pacific the border. Australia, on its part, has current estimates of US$ 27 billion to and do not necessarily reflect the views
Step-up initiative, which was first an- strongly condemned the military coup about US$ 45–50 billion over the next of the Manohar Parrrikar IDSA or of
nounced at the Pacific Island Forum and detainment of senior leaders. five years, and is expected to create the Government of India.
Leaders’ Meeting in September 2016 Australia’s response to the Ukraine over 10 lakh additional jobs. The deal
as a ‘step-change’ in its engagement crisis is aligned with its allies in West, will eliminate tariffs on more than 85 This is the abridged version of the
with the region. while Indian response is based on its per cent of Australian goods entering article which appeared first in the Com-
national interests and historic ties India and almost all Indian exports to ment section of the website (www.idsa.
Divergences with Russia. Australia, just as India, Australia. Indian companies will get in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute for
While India and Australia coop- Japan and many others, has realized supply of energy and raw material, Defense Studies and Analyses, New
erate on most areas, analysts observe the importance of self-reliance in while Australia will get better access Delhi on April 26, 2022

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